Okay, fine! I have not been blogging!  I have no real excuse except I've been facebooking...well, and teaching, finishing Master's work, assisting cadets, taking care of children, spending time with my fiancee, working, working, and working...with the occasional nap thrown in for good meaure.

But I will try to be back...here and there.  Of course, you can always become my friend on facebook for the latest picture updates and daily blurbs. 

And thank you for the numerous reminders of needing to xanga again. It really is an outlet, isn't it?  And I also was quite inspired by the 'automatic renewal' charge (ugh)!  Guess I paid for it, might as well use it!  (How do you turn that thing off anyway)?

Ah well, I will promise to try to post weekly (except, of course it is commencement, commissioning, end of the year parties for kids, weddings, etc.).  How 'bout I promise to do my best?

Jenn

Sorry.  I've been gone. Thank you for missing me.  Your messages and e-mails have worked; I will write some more. Sssshhhhh...don't tell, but I've been facebooking mostly.  It's just quicker and more visual for me.  But I will try to accomodate, although I've really been having a 'normal' life for awhile. Ah well.  Oh! But I did get an early Christmas gift:

We're in Target shopping before we have to pick up C--, and I'm in one of the aisles while J-- is looking at the toys.  This man asks J-- if I was his mom. (Of course my mom-senses are tingling and I eavesdrop and glance over). J-- just shrugged and said, "Yeah" (eloquent, I know).  Then the guy tells him, "Well, your mom is beautiful." (Thank you, good hair day!)  J-- barely looks up from the display and just says, "Yup."

The guy nodded at me and walked on. I went back to acting casual (although, I'm pretty certain I was smiling). And J-- finished selecting his Bakugan ball. He didn't even mention the incident in the car, but...

So, yeah!  Early Christmas gift!: A son who thinks his mom is beautiful! Oh, I am so interpreting the "yup" as a "Why, yes sir, she certainly is and I'm darn proud to be her son."  (What?! You think that's stretching it?  He's 11; I think it should count!)

And when I got home, I looked at myself in the mirror and thought, "Yup...I love that boy!"

Good night! Sleep well! Christmas is whispering that she's just around the corner.  "I'm coming," she giggles, as the wind whisps scarves and hair across rosy cheeks.  "Soon" she cooes as the frost settles and sparkling ice forms over moon-kissed shadows.  "All is well" she reassures, as days draw nearer to that Holy Night so long ago; a remembrance, yes, but a promise, too, for all the world! ...Again, sleep well,... let your heart lay down to receive His coming...again, soon...

Today my son came home sick from school (...from school...of school...you choose). I gave him soup, and he hugged me.  I sent him to his bed and he thanked me.  Guessin' he really was sick.  But now I can hear him upstairs on his DS...evidently feeling better.

Today my daughter asked if she could look through my jewelry box (same thing I used to do with my mom's jewelry box).  Now she wants to wear a pair of my old Winnie the Pooh dangly earrings...of course, she can wear them! They are fabulous!!  Then she hugged me and went to bed.

Two kids...two hugs...too good! 

Sorry. I've been so busy. But J-- and M-- have been in rare form lately; Oh, the stories I could tell.  But I won't for now.

Just a quick before-bed comment:

J--: Mom, you know what 'thinkin' outside the box' means?

Mom: Yes.

J--:  Well, I don't think M-- even knows there is a box.

Mom: (laughing)

J--: No, seriously, Mom. She's like makin' up her own rules.  It's very frustrating.

Mom: (stifling the giggles over his exasperation) Well, J--, what do you think we should do?

J--: You could tell her what the box looks like and then she would at least know she's not in it.

Poor guy! ;)

But I just can't bear to let her know there is a box.

Something very strange is happening downstairs......My children are playing quietly! 

What the heck is that all about?...I'm not used to this at all....There is no name calling, no play fighting, no whining, or squealing.....just quiet happiness.....I think I'm dreaming....and please don't pinch me!

To add to the absurdity, I can hear J-- humming Wham's "Last Christmas".....Seriously, where am I?????

Hang on; I'm going to yell down the stairs...

J--, do you know what song you're humming?

(singing...poorly, loudly ) "Last Christmas I gave you my heart, but the very next day you gave it away. This year..."

Enough! I get it.

Wham? That's who sings this?

Yeah, Wham.

What kind of name is that?

They were an 80's group.

Oh, that's right; you're old.

Hey!...Where did you you hear that song?

I was listening to your iPod!

(Shoot)!

And now they're back to playing again.  This can't last much longer, so please excuse me while I sit and take in the calm...